‘Ang Tunay na Sona ng Bayan’ set

THE Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) -- Zamboanga City chapter is holding a rally on Monday as part of the nationally coordinated protest of Bayan on the third State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Benigno Aquino III.

Dubbed as “Ang Tunay na Sona ng Bayan,” the rally will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the historical Plaza Pershing located a stone throw away from City Hall, the Bayan said in a statement.

Bayan said the rally will be led by different militant organizations and will be participated by residents of Zamboanga City who will present issues concerning privatization of 26 government agencies that provide social services.

The Bayan said that two of the government agencies targeted to be privatized are in Zamboanga City. These are the Zamboanga City Medical Center, a Level 4 government hospital, and the Zamboanga City Water District.

“The Aquino administration’s public-private partnership is a burden to the residents of Zamboanga City whose access to social services will be barred once the privatization of social services will be in place,” Bayan said.

The other issues that will be presented during the rally include the state of human rights and rights of the Moro people; state of workers, government employees and teachers; housing concerns from the urban poor sector in Zamboanga City; as well as issues concerning women and the youth, Bayan said. (Bong Garcia)